Reassessing a calendar- How it's helping me...

See this "blank" page from my 3-Ring-Binder calendar? This is the scheduling sheet I came up with to help myself feel organized yet not so pressured to accomplish items during certain periods of the day.

What I was doing before was putting my "garden water, study, exercise, and craft" items in the morning time, and then putting my "husband's business, homework, kids' time, and garden weeding" stuff in the afternoon when I got home. Well, if the evening stuff ended up taking longer- what with cooking dinner, the kids' behavior, personal errands I had to run, special husband time, etc- then I'd be up so much later at night and not have the energy to get up and spend 3 hours doing other stuff before going to work in the morning. Then I'd feel depressed and sad because I didn't have the motivation to get the stuff done that I really wanted to and I felt like I couldn't put priority on those things either.

AND I was writing everything in pen. So if I didnt complete something I had to squiggle it out and find another day to write it on. Those squiggles were depressing too!

I also filled in EVERY thing with something to do... I had to stop that because there's only so much I can do in a day!

So- I fixed the calendar page to include things I wanted to accomplish at home in one area- except the little bit of chore catch up or tiny personal things that I need to do too... (example, finishing up the laundry, paying a bill, etc). I also write things in pencil- so if I end up not having the time to complete something then I can erase it and pencil it in somewhere else. I also only fill in the very important items I need to do a week ahead of time- then I go on a day by day basis on filling in other things I'd like to accomplish.

You notice that "Craft" is the last thing on the calendar. This does not mean it has lowest priority in my "wants" to accomplish. I can already see the effects of this "new" calendar of mine working when it comes to getting what I WANT done too. I actually accomplished some art listing, blogging, and pinterest viewing in the past couple of days since I've done this calendar- and I feel so much more relaxed about it too!

Yes- think I'm crazy or totally OCD. But my point is: All I had to do was reassess my calendar and move it around a bit so I didn't feel so stressed out. Then I feel like I accomplish so much more- and so much more of what I ENJOY doing instead of just the droning day to day things I have to do.

Have you done this? What strategies help you sort your week out? I'd love to hear your stories!

OCD= Overload Creative Disorder



I have personally self diagnosed myself as having OCD (the Obsessive Compulsive type). I don't really know everything that entails with OCD- but I am sure that I have very similar tendencies.
For some examples: I am way too organized. I am constantly writing out and re-writing my to-do lists. I have a difficult time trying not to overstress myself when something changes in my schedule and prevents me from overcoming all of my tasks on my overwritten to do lists. I can barely sit still and relax when I know there are things to do on my overwritten to do lists. This stress level in turn interferes with my creative process- which I call OCD as well (Overload Creative Disorder).

When I start thinking about items to make handmade for selling or as gifts for family and friends, I get a whole bunch of ideas at once. I then list them all out as they come to me. I have been trying to schedule in which items to complete by a certain date on my calendars but am never able to find enough time to get to each item I want to complete in a day. I then feel overwhelmed and depressed and like I just have no time to achieve anything I actually want to do because I have to focus so much on things I really need to do.

Time to kick myself in the bottom and rethink my strategy on my overstressed life style so I don't lose my creative curve. Of course- I will still do a calendar and overwrite my to- do lists to fit my schedule cosntantly. But I am not going to "schedule in" when to be creative. Being creative is on my own standards and should be something I do when I'm ready to and when I can enjoy it. I still make a list-  mind you- of items I want to create that may fit with a certain month, season, holiday, etc. However, I will not pressure myself to complete those items within that timeframe. If I can't get to everything I want to make now- I'll get to the ones I feel like doing the most and then maybe save some ideas for a rainy day when there's nothing else to do (does that ever really happen???)

My story here is just a reminder for the rest of you who own your handmade item businesses- don't let pressure kill your creativity and block your brilliance. In my opinion you'll lose your value in what you're making and what you love to do if you can't just sit and enjoy what you're doing.

Happy Monday!